Maggior,
Wow, your lead skills have improved greatly since your last post. I can hear your lack of having to think about “how or what you want to do with this bend” they seem to flow from you now. So the overall flow of your leads has changed.
I think you can improve your ZZTOP leads by adding 2 string bends to your bag of tricks, just like single string bends they are hard to do at first, but are well worth the time in the long run. If you come down from a big bend and then grab a 2 string bend like he does a lot, you will open your field of expression and Dynamics in your leads. The added volume of the second string being stricked at the same time will change the dynamics but only for the moments you hold both strings. Another thing he does I’m not hearing is he will pre-bend a string before striking it and uses a slower speed to bring it back down to the open note. It has a great bluesy feel and sound. Another trick would be to start with it pre-bent then pick it a few time on the way back down.
It is interesting listening to the difference in your lead flow while you play I shot the sheriff. I can hear you connect to that song “inside” more than the ZZTOP song. Maybe you just have more hours of practicing the I shot the sheriff lead so it flows with less thought.
I don’t remember if I got this from this site or some thread on youtube. If you tap your foot while playing only tap your foot on the 2 and 4 beats. I find it changes my timing and notes picked to play. Give it a try it is kind of enlightening.
Side note of curiosity have you been trying to play with your eyes closed?
